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Want to spruce up your groom accessories for the big day with something just a little different? Maybe a little something that is quirky and definitely oh so debonair. Peggy and Finn‘s groom accessories have you covered with wooden bowties and cufflinks. If like me you are growing tired of seeing the same old traditional wedding attire and would like to get a little cheeky and have some fun with your outfit, I think wooden bowties and cufflinks could be just what you are looking for.

Based in Victoria, Peggy and Finn offer Australian handmade wooden bowties and cufflinks created from hand-selected recycled timber that gives each piece an individual feel. As each piece is handcrafted you can rest assured that it is of the highest quality and very much so bespoke. The discerning groom will look and feel as stylish and dashing as ever. These timber accessories bring a sort of warmth and vintage charm and will polish off any suit.

Whether you want to standout from your groomsmen and sport a bespoke bowtie and matching cufflinks or have each of your groomsmen and even your little ring bearer (kids bowties are available) wearing one, you will be sure to find something that suits your distinct style. Why not mix and match bowties and cufflinks throughout your grooms party to add some fun and flair.

Where to find these little gems? You can shop online at Peggy and Finn and a list of stockists will be coming soon!

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It’s a big moment in any man’s life – the moment he decides to ask his lady to be his wife. But, what exactly runs through his head in the lead up? I’ve caught up with some menfolk to spill the beans on their own proposal stories. Today Sam and Kate (Peggy) share with us how it all happened:

Planning a proposal is HUGE – what initial ideas did you have about how you would propose?

I wanted to make the engagement in the summertime, keep it true to us and be near family and friends so we could celebrate with them.

How were you feeling leading up to the big question?

The only element that made me nervous was whether or not Peggy would like the ring and how I proposed. I had zero nerves about if she would actually say yes!

Please spill on all the proposal details – we want to know how it played out, any hiccups along the way, and if she was surprised!

I kept the weekend very standard. We had a usual Friday night fish and chip dinner and then went for an early morning run through Noosa national park on Saturday morning. On the run home past Little Cove beach, whilst listening to music, I sent Peggy a text message with a link to a video. She opened the video and I asked her to come down to the beach to watch it. After watching the video I proposed and then surprised her with lunch at Sails with our closest friends.

I had also organised for Peggy to have 3 days off work the following week and took her for a getaway to Longitude 131 at Uluru. She had no idea any of it was happening! In typical engagement stories the whole thing was nearly re-scheduled/changed because it was pouring with rain when we originally set out for our run.

Do you have any tips or advice for future grooms planning to propose?

After being together for a long time (10 years), I wanted to make sure I could still surprise her – it’s worth it to put the effort of thinking every detail through. Also, being able to celebrate with our closest friends afterward and having the video as a momento were great things about the engagement.

Congratulations Sam & Peggy and all the best with the wedding planning!

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When it comes to wedding fashion, I know I’m stating the obvious when I say that the spotlight is on the ladies. Yes, a stunning bride coming down the aisle should have all eyes on her, but I do feel its a shame that the lads miss out on some deserved attention when it comes to dressing up for the biggest day of their life. After all, it is their day too!

I can hear you saying to yourself that many Aussie blokes are perfectly happy to take a back seat when it comes to fashion for their wedding. And trying to drag your man to the shops is about as fun as cleaning the oven. However it is great to see that many grooms are turning a corner and really putting a lot of thought into their attire for the day. It’s a great way for the boys to feel just as involved and in turn get more excited about the other details they’d usually leave to their better half. And when they do it really gets noticed.

Since I started my business Huxby Haberdashery last year, I’ve noticed some promising trends emerging in groom fashion that I forecast to only get more prevalent this year. I do think Aussie men are taking more interest in their style, and this is being reflected in their choices for what to wear at weddings. While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with going traditional and sticking to classic black tie, I’m a big fan of showing off your personality with accessories that stand out, and this certainly includes menswear too.

So, I made it my mission to provide an option for creative, colourful and customised accessories for grooms and groomsmen, and so far the reception has been really positive. Along the way I’ve noticed a few key trends and so here are my predictions for groom and groomsmen fashion in 2015.

1. Colour Co-ordination

Wedding colour schemes are nothing new, but lately I’m seeing a lot more couples carry the theme through to men’s accessories as well. It looks quite special when a common colour is threaded through the whole bridal party as well as the decor.

For example, I’m loving all the pretty floral crowns for brides this summer and picking out a key colour such as yellow, looks fantastic when the groom matches it with a yellow pocket square.

Equally as stunning is matching the bridesmaids dresses to the groomsmen’s ties or bow ties. We recently made some custom ties and little boys bow tie for a gorgeous couple in Melbourne who had a mint green theme for their beach wedding. The bridesmaids were wearing Anna Campbell in a soft shade of mint, so we colour matched our linen ties, which looked really unique and had a luxury beach style.

It can be hard to find men’s accessories in such specific colours, which is why custom made is often a good option. Bespoke service fabric to order, means you can choose any colour under the sun to match to.

2. Going Casual

Especially for Spring and Summer weddings, I’m seeing a lot more use of natural fabrics with earthy textures replacing the traditional shiny silks and satins.

Linen is particularly beautiful for a warmer weather wedding because it has a casual feel while still looking sophisticated and elegant. It’s also nice and cooling which can be a blessing on a hot summers day!

Some gents are also opting to move away from the standard suit or tuxedo. Beach and garden weddings with a boho feel are ever-growing in popularity, and so it makes sense that grooms are opting for more laid-back style such as linen blazers with chinos. A rather dapper look is wearing a contrasting colour pant and jacket.

Bringing the look together with a coordinating accessory such as a tie or pocket square can give this look the finishing touches it needs to separate it from everyday wear to something more special.

3. Experimenting with pattern

Couples who want to make their wedding reflect their personal style and stand apart from the rest are introducing pattern and prints into their wedding attire.

Summer florals have always looked whimsical and romantic, but more recently I’m noticing bolder geometric prints appearing in wedding fashion, and gents are getting on the bandwagon and opting for a printed tie or pocket square to tickle up their outfit.

Keeping the suit and shirt colours muted and subtle is key when opting for a pattern. Several couples we’ve worked with recently have chosen a patterned pocket square while keeping the ties a solid colour. Just a little pop of pattern in the jacket pocket is sometimes all you need.

For this wedding we used the same fabric as the bridesmaids dresses to make the ties, and then printed our linen with a geometric print using the same green tone, to complete the outfit.

If you’re struggling to find a coordinating tie and pocket square that works with your bridesmaids dresses, consider our custom made service. You can bring your own fabric, so if you’ve got a few metres left over from making the bridesmaids dresses, why not turn it into a set of bow ties for lads? Or use our fabric options and we’ll print or dye it in a colour and pattern that suits your wedding. For more information on Huxby’s custom made wedding service visit us here or contact us for a chat about your wedding plans.

That’s my trend predictions for groom and groomsmen style in 2015. I do hope you are loving all aspects of your wedding planning (including what your man is wearing!). If I can leave you with one small piece of advice it’s to get organised early by chatting to suppliers about what you’re thinking for your wedding. It will give you the time and breathing space to really think about what you want from your day and will mean you don’t have to compromise because you’re rushed.

Emily Revell is the owner of Huxby Haberdashery, a local Australian business that makes unique ties, bow ties and pocket squares in Sydney. Offering custom made for weddings and events, the service lets you pick and mix with colour, texture and pattern to get your accessories exactly as you want them.